WEBVTT SEPTEMBER IS KNOWN AS PEDIATRIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. FOR MANYIN OUR AREA WHO HAVE FACEDCHILDHOOD CANCER THEIR ONLY rtSOURCE OF TREATMENT IS ACHILDREN'S HOSPITAL THREE HOURS AWAY. IN JANUARY, ARKANSASCHILDREN'SNORTHWEST HOSPITAL WILL OPEN IN SPRINGDALE-- CHANGING THrtE LIVES OF PEOPLE, LIKE THE FARMINGTONMOTHER ANDDAUGHTER WHO SPOKE TO OUR JAMIE WEISS.(PKG) ADDISON ALFORD IS LIrtKE ANY11-YEAR-OLD. SHE LOVES HER DOGCOCO AND HAS MANY FRIENDS AT SCHOOL. HOWEVER, HER LIFErtWAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN IN 2015. "she spent her 9th birthday inthe hospital" AFTER WEEKS OFFLU-LIKE SYMPTOMrtADDISON WAS DIAGNOSED WITHLUKEMIA. THE TREATMENT SHENEEDED was far away so HER FAMILY had to travel a lot FROM THEIR HOME IN FARMINGTON. (Addison Alford and Robby Funk, ACNW Ambassadors) rt"In the year 2015, we probablyspent more than half the year in the hospital inLittle Rock, so away from home, away from familyand friends and work.'rtWITH ARKANSAS CHILDREN'SNORTHWEST OPENING IN A FEWMONTHS, ADDISON'S MOM FEELS LIKESHE CAN FINALLY BREATHE AGAIN.And I just remember justoverwhelming reliertf and hope you know to think you know not everyone is going to have to do that travel on top of the rttreatment. They'll be home." ASTATE-OF-THE ART HOME FOR TREATMENTS LIKE CHEMOTHERAPY, rtBLOOD WORK AND EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS. "I never even thought about ifbefore Addison was diagnosedwith LukemiaIt's not as rare as people think it is. Just here inrtArkansas, there are 100 kids a year diagnosed with some typeof pediatric cancer." AFTER TWO YEARS OF PAIN, ADDISONISrtFINALLY IN REMISSION. AND NOW MORE THEN EVER, THEY'RE GRATEFUL FOR THErtOPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITHARKANSAS CHILDREN'S NORTHWEST,JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM THEIR FARMINGTON HOME."We're from a small community and everybody knows everybody.It's scary for everyone. So thatwas another big thing that. Yortu don't get that with a regular hospital or anadult hospital. They really think of the kids anrteveryone who the illness will effect."JAMIE WEISS, 40/29 NEWS.rtANY DONATIONS MADE TO ARKANSASCHILDREN'S DURING THE MONTH OFSEPTEMBER WILL GO DIRECTLYTOWARDS PEDIATRIC CANCERS.

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During the two-day Miracles and Magic Radiothon, Magic 107.9 aired stories from families who's lives will be changed with the opening of Arkansas Children's Northwest.

"We have so many families that have to spend all day just to spend 20 minutes to go to a doctor's appointment," Toni Bahn with Circle of Friends said.

Many families in our area have to travel to Little Rock for treatment, something that will soon change when the children's hospital in Springdale opens.

"You can get there quickly and maybe don't have to use Angel One to get MedFlighted to Little Rock," Kelley Cullen with Miracles and Magic Radiothon said. "We'll have that emergency room with pediatric care here in Northwest Arkansas."

The Miracles and Magic Radiothon is hoping to raise $40,000 during the fundraiser.

You can make a donation by calling (479) 455-KIDS on October 5 and 6 from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.